Call for clarity over revoking Article 50

Joanna Cherry, the SNP MP, is one of seven parliamentarians asking for the question about blocking Brexit to be put to the European Court of JusticeRUSSELL CHEYNE/REUTERS

A cross-party group of politicians has asked Scotland’s top civil court to seek a European ruling to establish whether the UK parliament has the power to block Brexit.

Seven parliamentarians believe that MPs can unilaterally revoke Article 50 and that this should be a third option when they are asked whether to approve a proposed deal on the UK’s future relationship with Europe.

Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, has said that the consent of the 27 other EU member states would be needed to halt the Brexit process, but the position has not been tested in court. Westminster has dismissed the petitioners’ case as hypothetical and irrelevant.

At a hearing at the Supreme Court in Edinburgh yesterday, the politicians asked for the question to…

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